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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. degree — an amount
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. can — a tin
  4. lie — to recline
  5. charge — in control
  6. fine — all right
  7. bulb — for light
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. charge — a price
  10. plane — a tool
  11. fine — high quality
  12. ball — a dance
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. bulb — for light
  15. degree — temperature
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. degree — from a university
  18. charge — electricity
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. can — a tin
  21. ball — a great time
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. can — to be able to
  24. plane — in geometry

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com